It had been a few days since Rae had found Drake's shirt and a few more after that that she and Anthony had had their little chat. She sat in her bedroom, her side table light on as she looked around her clean and sterile life. Everything was clean, not one thing out of place, nothing too personal or bright laying around.

Her hands shook as they clutched the business card in her hands, it had been a total fluke that she'd even gotten it, she'd found it stuck to her door one night as she had come home toting a take out bag. Maybe this was the answer to what she needed, the card said that the contracted lover would do anything the client wanted...well Rae didn't want much. She wanted something a dog or cat couldn't do, she wanted something to hold her and cuddle her and tell her that they were happy she was home.

Finally taking a deep breath she grabbed the phone and punched in the numbers, before her self resolve could take over and she could hang up the phone a nasally woman picked up the phone. "Blue Rose Company, this is Marsha how can I direct your call?"

"Um...I want...a lover..." Rae found herself choking out before her rebellious side could take over and force her to hang up.

"One moment please," the phone rang a few times again and was answered by yet another woman with a deeper and more pleasing voice.

"This is Maribelle, how can I help you?" she asked, for some reason Raelin felt much less embarassed spilling her wants and needs to this woman.

"Um, yes! I was uh...interested in contracted a lover...how, how long is your longest contract?" she practically whispered.

"My longest contract is for Jacob Hart, and that's for six months, he's currently free at the moment, would you like me to put things in order?" she asked graciously.

"Uh, sure, I mean...six months? Really? And he can't take another job till it's over?" she asked.

"Yes ma'am," was the answer. Thoughts spun around Raelin's head, for six months she could have this man and do whatever she wanted with him...done.

"Let's do it." she confirmed.


Three hours later Raelin was nervously looking at her front door wondering who the hell was going to walk through it. She had asked for the extra time in order to make her home less...forboding, she didn't want to scare the poor thing. Maribelle said that he was an older gentleman and Rae had to admit that she liked older men but part of her was nervous as to how he would react to her.

Rae had changed into one of her less intimidating corsets and had actually done her hair in a becoming fashion. Take out containers were on the counter filled with food so they could at least eat before things offcialyl started, she could only hope that her impulsive descision (one of the very VERY few she had ever made) wouldn't be her undoing.

"So, there really are people out there who are willing to hire lovers for six months and toss them away. I thought that was a myth. It barely takes three for strangers to fall in love. If it isn't instant." Jacob stood outside the building that would be his home for the next six months. Just staring.

Although he had always been curious as to what would happen over six months belonging to a person who could do what they wanted with him...he was suddenly wary. Maribelle seemed to think this woman sounded very nice and pleasing, if not a little hesitant. Maybe this would be a good thing. Jake had been looking for a little bit of stability.

Taking a deep breath and smoothing the collar of his blue/grey shirt, Jake slipped inside the doors and dashed into the elevator - the instructions had said top floor. Carrying only a boquet of flowers and a red velvet box of chocolates (the company would bring his things over at a more appropriate time), Jake oozed lover with every move, every glance.

He knew he was dressed to kill, though he had toned it down a little bit. He didn't want to scare the girl off before the six months had even begun. He was wearing skin tight black jeans, expensive black doc martins (his one signature bad boy look besides his leathers) and a blue/grey, long sleeved button down. His hair was clean and shone in the light, thick and utterly touchable, begging someone's fingers to run through it.

His eyes were particularly green thanks to the blue shirt, and glinted with comfortable mischief. He was scruffy, but not overly so. If he did say so himself...he was perfect.

The ding of the elevator pulled him out of his own self contemplation. Stepping into the hallway, he was confronted by a single door. Doing a last quick check, the warm cinnamon and vanilla musk of his cologne just perfectly noticeable in the warm appartement, Jake allowed his lips to curve into a warm smile, and rapped teasingly against the door.

Rae started as she heard the knock on the door and walked to it quickly, her hand grabbed the cold metal and seemed to mentally shake her. She needed this and even if she never did anything else for herself for the rest of her life, for the next six months she was going to be...well she was going to be something, she just hadn't figured out what yet.

Taking a deep breath, causing the cream corset tightly laced with baby blue satin ribbons and filmy lace to rise with her chest she pulled open the door. "Um, come in!" she invited as her deep brown eyes instantly roved over the incredibly handsome man standing at her doorstep, mother in heaven he would out Drake to shame if they were standing next to each other. She felt guilty for thinking that but she couldn't help it, the man was drop dead gorgeous.

She closed the door behind him and locked it out of habit, then she turned around to face him. "Um so...I should get a vase for those right? I haven't gotten roses in a long time," she tried to smile but it didn't quite work in fact she looked ill. She turned away from him and headed into the kitchen, good father in heaven, what had she gotten herself into?

Jake's smile widened as he took in the rather stunned look of the woman before him. Knowing she was taking her sweet time perusing him, he did some of his own. The woman was gorgeous. Creamy, kissable skin, full breasts, corset...Jake felt a quiet shiver run down his spine. Beautiful body, delicate yet dangerous. He could feel it.

And he could sense her anxiety, as she babbled him inside the door and then turned and flustered her way to the kitchen. He was too observant sometimes, there was little people could hide from him. Catching sight of the take out, one regal brow furrowed and he made a mental note to ban all take out from the house.

Gently setting the roses down on the counter, he took a quick glance around his new home before slipping into the kitchen to find his missing lovely. He found her near one of her cupboards on what he assumed was a hunt for a vase. Catching sight of one slightly above her reach, Jake stepped up behind her until his firm, toned chest was molded up against the sensuous curve of her back, one hand falling on her hip, the other reaching up past her to grab the vase and set it next to them.

"All you had to do was point me in the right direction." The slender, long fingered hand resting on the counter inched towards her hand, smooth skin touching smooth skin as he ran those fingers up to the woman's shoulder. Nuzzling under her hair, lips just barely brushing the sensitive skin at the back of her neck, he slipped his arms around her waist, holding her gently but firmly close.

"What's got you looking so nervous pet? There's nothing to be afraid of here." Voice rumbling low and sensual in his chest, he pressed three soft kisses across the back of her shoulder his little inner voice singing the praises to this woman for conscripting him for six whole months.

What months of heaven these would be, at least that's what he thought.

Raelin stiffened as his chest met her back and his large hand rested on her waist. Most women would have probably sang at such a gentle touch, however as has been previously established, Raelin was most certainly not like most women. She jerked away from him and his kisses, snatching the vase from his hand.

"First rule...no sex." she found herself snapping. "And nothing that will lead to sex either!" she felt prudent to add. "I was going to wait till after dinner but I should have taken Maribelle seriously when she said you were fast. I didn't contract you for...sex..." she gulped.

She set the vase down next to the roses and hurriedly put them in, nicking herself on a thorn. With a vicious curse she stuck her finger into her mouth and pulled the blood from the shallow cut. She glared at Jacob as if he were the sweetest poison in her arsenal, she should have made it clear to Maribelle that she wanted a bed partner not a lover, she would have to send him back...but she'd already paid good money for him and the other men were only contracted out for three months at the most and Raelin found she needed something much longer.

"What are you staring at?" she demanded acidly for lack of anything else to say.

'No sex?' Jake frowned, flicking his long bangs out of his eyes with a rather arrogant flick of his head. "Alright." He placed his hands on his slim hips, studying her carefully with eyes that had darkened to a contemplative, whisky golden brown. "So no sex."

Stalking around the counter, he pulled her hand from it's guarded position and studied the minute pin prick there, kissing away the last droplet of blood before dropping her hand and gracefully stepping away.

"So what is it you've paid for darling? Maribelle is never forthcoming with the information. I believe she likes throwing me into the element of surprise." He didn't respond to her bristling hostility. He found it much easier to simply let it pass.

"Sit. You can eat while you talk." Pulling out the chair to his closest left, he held it and waited, looking expectantly at the woman. "Perhaps introductions might be in order as well, although I'm sure you already know my name." One hand over his heart, lips pulling away from his teeth in a heart melting smile, he bowed his head.

"Jacob Hart. If you like, you can call me Jake. And you are?" Extending a hand, still standing next to the withdrawn chair, he waited, fingers gracefully curved, his expression open...and contemplating. This was quite the anomoly standing before him. He had a lot of figuring out to do.

Raelin decided pulled out another chair and sat in that one instead. As far as she was concerned, she was still an able bodied woman who could do things for herself. As she sat down and grabbed a take out container and some chopsticks. Saying nothing yet she seperated the wooden utensils and picked at her food.

"My name is Raelin, I suppose you can call me Rae if you wish," she simply said before popping a piece of spicy, honey glazed chicken into her mouth.

"So what is it you've paid for darling?"

She thought about his question as she chewed, it was quite easy to answer, and she had no reason to lie to him, and it would help to instill the no sex rule she had just established. Not that she didn't want to have sex with this man, oh gods no, sex with him seemed like it would be an adventure in itself. She just didn't pay for sex, it didn't sit well with her.

"I want someone to come home to at night, someone to cuddle with in bed, I just don't want to be alone," she shrugged. "And who knows, if I like you well enough I might contract you out for another six months..." she drawled as she continued to eat.

Raising his eyebrow, feeling the muscles in the back of his neck tighten for a moment, he sensually slumped himself down into the chair had had previously been holding out, wrinkling his nose adorably at the rather greasy containers sitting in front of him.

"Alright. So basically, you want a houseman. I can play that way. First things first," Jake pointed a dramatic finger at the take out cartons. "Consider me the personal chef. No more take out. It's greasy, salty and all around icky." Sniffing, he stood abruptly from his chair and disappeared into the kitchen.

"Well of all the bloody things...I think this is the first time I've been in a woman's appartement and the fridge has been nearly empty!" Popping his head back in he winked at her. "Don't know how you paid for me luv if all your money's going towards fast food."

"Suppose I'm going shopping tomorrow. You do know that grocery bills come out of your pocket. Ah well, how are you to know. Maribelle isn't forth coming either way. Alright, I'll buy the groceries. Anything you don't eat?"

Jake suited domesticity quite well. Those he was the most sexual, sensual and exotic lover Blue Rose had, he was known for his tenderness, compassion and mothering nature as well. He had many a customer who conscripted him simply to be held or to bathe them or wash their hair. Though of course...not usually six months of that.

"6 months without sex. Possibly longer. Maribelle...no more flowers or candy for you." Shaking his head, he shut the fridge, going to lean in the doorway to the dining room, studying Rae as she ate. At least the woman was intriguing. Otherwise he might just have to throw himself off her rather impressive balcony.

Raelin scowled to hear him pawing about in her kitchen, she'd make it off limits but the prospect of having home cooked meals again was rather tempting. "I can afford it," was all she snapped at him before eating again.

"I hate that stupid green stuff, that vegetable that looks like a tree!" she shouted at him. "And don't get onto me about my eating habits, I work it all off, one of these days you'll see!" she argued hotly. She didn't feel that hungry anymore and set down her chicken and hopped off her stool to get a beer from the refrigerator. "Want one?" she asked as she grabbed one and cracked it open. Of all the lovers to get she got one that talked back.

Raelin was quite of the mindset that she could take care of herself, which was quite contrasting to the feelings of desperate lonliness that had propelled her to hire Jake. She was a woman of deep and often violent contradictions, she only hoped that now that she had someone to come home to, she'd remember to come home once in awhile. She continued to glare at him as she drained her beer and tossed it into a bin near the trash. "Well?" she demanded.

Eyeing the beer with the same disgust he had the take out containers, he snorted at her. "No thanks ducks. You can keep them." Catching sight of the irritation strewn across her face, he smirked at her.

"I've been here for maybe fifteen minutes. Been told I can't have sex with you, I'm to be your little domestic house-man...and yet I'm still irritating you. Is there something perhaps you'd like? Maybe...testing out my...skills?"

His eyes grew a shade darker, a deep rich chocolate colour now, his husky voice reverberating around the quiet kitchen. But his mood shifted as quickly as it had come, and suddenly he was standing right in front of her, strong arms held open and away from his body.

"You're looking for a bed mate. How about a hug? Test out hte merchandise? You know you do have three days to renegue on the contract for a full refund. Bet Maribelle didn't tell you that either. I come obligation free for a three-day trial. But for now...hug me?"

Eyes still deep brown, he looked casual, relaxed, open, comforting...and like sin poured into jeans and a silk shirt.

Raelin eyed him warily, she had no idea that she could try him out for three days and turn him in for a refund if she didn't like him, but for some reason that seemed like a very distasteful act. She paid for 6 months and hells bells if she wasn't going to use him for 6 months.

She inched closer to him and tentivley placed her hands on his chest and slid them up and around his neck. She didn't hug people, she wasn't much of a hugger, but she loved to cuddle in her sleep, it was something she had discovered with Drake many years ago. Now she only hoped that it was something that was universal and not something she only did with him. "One more part of my life you still own..." she thought sadly.

Her grip tightened on Jake, rising onto her tip toes and hugged him. Hm...not bad, he was quite huggable and he smelled nice, very nice actually. She actually couldn't stop herself from buring her nose into his shoulder and inhaling his colonge. And damnit if she didn't want to break the first rule right there...

Jake left his arms open as she slowly slid into them. Biting his lip to stifle a chuckle, he waited until her body was pressed fully against his before he slid one strong arm around her waist, the other lying diagonally up her back to gently cup the back of her neck, holding her head where it lay nuzzled against his collarbone.

He didn't squeeze her too tightly though. Getting into this position had seemed strained and nearly calculated, each movement carefully thought out. He wanted to make the experience as pleasant and comforting as possible.

So he carefully let his body slump around her, all of his muscles easing and relaxing, the hug turning into a hold as he cradled her in his arms. Goddamnit she smelled amazing. He couldn't help turning his head to softly inhale in her hair, gently nuzzling her temple.

But he remembered the rules. Even if the feel of each soft breath against his neck was sending shivers down his spine. "Is this alright?" She was obviously used to being in control of the situations around her. And although Jake took a dominant role in every aspect of life around him....he knew how to use his pleasant, compliant side to sidle around his more difficult customers.

"If you don't mind, there's a couple of rules I'd like to set up. Mutually of course. So that we can both get as much enjoyment out of our time together as possible. Without sex." A soft, platonic kiss pressed against her temple and he was slowly drawing back just far enough to look down into her face, still holding her in the circle of his arms.

Raelin looked up at him and stiffened again, rules? Well wait...I mean they had to live together for six months, it would be extremely unfair to expect him to abide by only her rules.

"Alright, what are they?" she demanded, forcing herself to stand still there with him. All the insecurities in her life were rearing their ugly heads. Her lonliness was cheering her on for finding such a handsome man to spend time with and another side of her was depressed because she felt like she was betraying the man she loved more than anything. Which was stupid since he had moved on and she needed to move on and the last time she had tried to move on the guy turned out to like her sister and they'd really only been having comfort sex.

She wasn't betraying Drake, she was moving on, she was getting on with her life and learning to live normally, without regrets and if she had to use a hired lover to do it she would because gosh dang it no one else in this god forsaken city would put up with her shit.

For a moment, he forgot what he was talking about. The only thing he could focus on...was the utter turmoil marching across the beautiful face tilted up at him. She was far more than just timid about this whole situation...she appeared almost shameful about it. There was insecurity...and a broken heart. Suddenly the no sex rule was starting to make a lot more sense.

Moving the hand away from the back of her neck, he gently cupped her face, smoothing his thumb along one defined cheekbone. "First off, now that I'm here. If you accept me...I'm not just a hired lover. I am yours. However large or small that is." He gave her a reassuring smile.

"Second off, I'm an extremly tactile person. I love hugs and cuddles and little platonic," he made sure to stress the word. "touches and nuzzles. So you can hit me if you really so desire, but I will touch you. Third," He figured it was better to get them all out. "No more take out unless I'm out or physically incapacitated. I'll cook. And no, there won't be broccoli."

"I sleep in boxers or sleep pants. No shirts. So get used to it. And...I think that's all for now. Remember, I know you don't want to think of me as an object...and I won't be treated like one. I plan on getting comfort and affection and platonic love from this as well. That seem fair so far?"

The thumb against her cheekbone had stopped moving and he found himself once again entranced in her face, eyes scanning and taking in everything about her as his head dipped just slightly, lips hovering just above hers....before he swallowed hard and lifted his head.

"Alright?"

"Okay..." she agreed. Nothing there she couldn't handle, even the platonic things, besides maybe it wouldn't be so bad to have chaste kisses here and there. His thumb caressing her face felt nice, she hadn't felt that in such a long time. Her body started to relax.

"Fair enough, I suppose I should warn you ahead of time, though I usually don't find it necessary, I have a quick temper and I'm married to my job so...your job, more than anything is to make me want to come home at night...and maybe...go places..." she muttered. "I don't want to be alone anymore..." she admitted.

She found it easy to talk to him about this, maybe because he was a stranger or maybe because they were going to be really close for the next six months, but Raelin found it was easier to think of it in longer terms, though six months was a short amount of time, right now in the kitchen it felt like forever.

"So...this nuzzle thing...is that always part of the deal?" she asked trying to make a joke.

Clearing his throat to dispel the little naughty voice that was whispering all sorts of devious things to him, his face broke out into a full grin. "Oh yes," With a voice coloured with mischief he pulled her back into his arms and nuzzled right into her neck, playing it up with little snorts and snuffles.

"Nuzzle nuzzle." Brushing a soft kiss against her collarbone, only lifting his head far enough to see, he pulled her back out of the kitchen and into the dining room. Sitting down on one their abandoned chairs, he pulled her onto his lap.

"Do me a favour love and eat a little bit more. As much as I love your slenderness...I don't like bone on bone." Lips quirking to the side at his own rather naughty play on words, he settled back, Rae perched on his thighs and began tracing the laces up the back of her corset, making sure to brush any and every little pocket of skin he could find.

"So luv, tell me something about yourself. What do you do for a living that's so difficult to break away and come home from?"

Rae grabbed her take out box again and started eating, she'd have to work this off in the gym tomorrow. "Um, well I'm the Head Investigator at MSI...I get caught up at work." she shrugged. She was slightly uncomfortable sitting on his lap, she'd never been on someone's lap before, not even Drake's...

"Plus it's not really a priority to come home when all you have to greet you is an empty house..." she added a little sadly before she ate more chicken. Chewing for a moment she swallowed and tilted her head up to look down at him.

"My sister and my boyfriend and I used to live here, then my sister left, and then Drake left and...I've been alone for a long time now. I never liked the thought of being alone and at least at MSI I was surrounded by paperwork, so it wasn't like sleeping alone. Danae gets onto me all the time about it..." she shrugged.

"It's just better than coming home and being lonely I guess...BUT! I have you here now and I won't have to come home to an empty house again!" she smiled a little happily at the thought.

"What about you? How did you get into a business like this?" she asked.

Jake smiled, pursing his lips as his fingers brushed the bottom of what looked like a tattoo on her lower back. "Ahh, tattoo. Bet a lot of people wouldn't expect that." Murmering more to himself, he almost missed the question.

"Business? Ahhh. Blue Rose. Well, it found me really. I had left home and I was broke, homeless and utterly without direction. But I was good with people. The flyer for Blue Rose just...blew in at my feet. And they were looking for a male lover. I went, showed my pretty face, and here I am. That was eight years ago."

He omitted the part about his self MSI training. The fact that he had turned down such an honour...might not fly so well with the head investigator. "You know, people think we're just high priced whores." He tilted his head. "And I suppose sometimes their right. But we're more than that."

Running a large warm palm down the center of her back, he let it rest just above the small of her back. "We give solace. Affection, attention. We dispel lonliness, calm fears, open doors. Sometimes I'm a shoulder to cry on, sometimes I'm a chef. Sometimes I'm conscripted for a couple of hours, just because someone was lonely or wanted to be cared for when their sick. We become more than whores. We are comfort and beauty and life. All packaged up and available with no strings attached but the money you pay for us."

"I suppose for an MSI though, that might be difficult to comprehend. I know what it feels like to be absorbed in your work. Although mine really is my life...it's everything. I enjoy who I am, what I do. I take pride that I can help so many in my own ways. Who knows, maybe I'll help you. Maybe i'll be more than the one who greets you at the door and keeps you warm and safe at night."

This time he did chuckle, low and soft. "But I guess we'll have to see. Are you finished luv?"

Everything he said made sense and really she never thought of him as a whore in the first place, merely as a contrated lover.

"Are you finished luv?"

"Yeah, and it's late, I have to get up early in the morning..." she yawned. "Are you ready? I haven't slept with another person for a long time now, there's a possibility of me waking up andkilling you, think you can handle that?" she smirked as she stood and took his hand.

"Oh but wait...you didn't eat anything and I bought some for you too..." she pointed out.

Jake just smiled, gathering up the take out containers and tossing them in the trash. "Don't worry about me love. I ate on the way over. I was rather early, and Maribelle said you had wanted extra time. But I do appreciate the thought." Grinning at her, he pressed a kiss to her temple, fingers brushing against the small of her back before skittering away.

"This way to the bedroom I presume?" Calling over his shoulder, Jake took the most likely hallway, eyes immediatley falling on the...empty bedroom. His brow furrowed. Where was his stuff? On a hunch, he headed for the dresser and pulled out one of the drawers. Neatly folded besides all of the lovely girly things, were his clothing. "Hope you don't mind, my stuff seems to have invaded half of your dresser." He glanced up towards her closet. "And closet."

Grinning, he plucked a pair of silky black (see the trend? He likes soft things) out of 'his' drawer and disappeared into the bathroom. "Oooo, love the digs pet!" He shouted before hip checking the door shut behind him. Jake knew this was rather presumptious of him, and already his 'takeover' seemed to have begun. But, she was a strong woman. If she really and truly opposed to anything, he had no doubt she would speak her mind.

Finishing up his nighttime ritual, tossing his clothing into the conviniently located hamper, he stepped out of the bathroom, rising up on bare tiptoes and stretching his arms up to the ceiling.

Every muscle in his torso flexed smoothly with the movement, shifting under skin that glowed softly in the dim light, and begged to be touched. Hairless, he looked anything but juvenille. Drop dead gorgeous? Sexy? Alluring? He'd take all those for sure. "Get ready luv," Arms behind his head, still displaying the wonderful chiseled view of his upper body. "I'll turn down the bed." Winking at her, he moved just far enough away so she could move past him, though his eyes remained fixed on her.

Ah yes, his clothes. She had insisted that they be put away and his luggage stored in the near empty hall closet. She didn't quite mind that her things were next to his, it helped to give her home a more...lived in look. She'd have to work on that, maybe put some pictures up...

"Um, so...yeah..." she fled into the bathroom with her night shirt when he was done and locked herself in. This was it. sink or swim...she could do this, she could and she would! She was Raelin Lorcan for god's sake she could do this!! She washed her face and brushed her teeth with new resolve and after brushing her hair out she smoothed lavander scented lotion over her knees and elbows.

Finally she peeked out and examined Jacob as he turned down the side of the bed that had been abandoned for years now. Taking a deep breath she walked forward and paused at her side. "My side..." she pointed stupidly, what a moron.

Jake looked up from where he stood bent over the bed, brown eyes staring up at her with a momentary lapse of comprehension. Then understanding dawned and he gave her another one of his brilliant smiles. "Well love, considering your desire for bedtime snuggles, I doubt the concept of your side or my side will last very long."

But he complied with her wishes, sliding under the covers with a quiet groan of contentment, snuggling into the cushy pillows in a way that could only be described as inappropriately adorable. Glancing up at her, he immediatley rolled up onto his side, head supported in one hand as the other arm reached out to her.

"Come along love. Nothing to be afraid of. Make sure you set your alarm alright?" Even Jake was surprised how easy he was falling into the role of caregiver and houseman. Maybe it was because she seemed so....violently delicate. So passionately insecure. She was a mass of contradictions and lonliness...that just cried out to him.

And it helped that she was hot. Very hot. "By the way...you have gorgeous legs." Another smooth wink and a wiggle of his fingers as he flipped back her side of hte bed sheets. "How lucky am I to share a bed with you Rae?" It was a question...and not.

"Ask yourself that in the morning..." she smirked as she quickly climbed into bed next to him. This was odd, and yet not. She turned and checked to make sure her alarm would go off properlyand turned back to Jake.

She scooted onto her side and slid closer to Jake till she was pressed against him her arms awkwardly wrapping around his neck. "Good for now? You can move me, I mean...I don't know how you like to cuddle..." she shrugged with all seriousness.

She was serious about the cuddling. Good, so was Jake. But she was awkward at it. No matter. Rolling onto his back, he pulled her with him, settling and shifting slightly until she was resting with her head over his heart, legs tangled in his and arms free to do as they wished.

Gently stroking one large hand over her hair he smiled up at the ceiling in the darkness. "I think this is a good way to start. It's a nice intro to sleeping cuddled up with someone all night. You're free to move if you wish. And I find that heartbeats are the most soothing sound to sleep to. You comfortable enough here?" The hand stroking her hair began to take longer strokes, running down her spine as far as it could reach before starting the whole long cycle again.

"If there's anything that makes you uncomfortable or unsure, we can change things around. Remember that." Dropping a kiss on the top of her head, he settled back with a soft sigh of contentment. It felt good. Her warm weight resting over top of him. It was calming, comforting. "Are you alright?"

Now, for those who knew Raelin Lorcan they would not have thought her the type of woman to so blindly trust a stranger, especially when it came to something like personl spae and sleeping in front of them. But that was the thing about Raelin, she was an oddity, she slept anywhere and everwhere, in the office, in the gym on the balance beam...she was like a cat that way.

So it was no wonder that when she was properly placed and she felt the steady, unmistakable sound of Jake's heartbeat accompanied by the long, slow strokes of his hand down her hair and back, she practically purred with satisfaction and fell asleep. Her body however relaxed only marginally, she was still ever alert and ready for battle, or a threat.

Her soft snores permiated the air as for the first time, in a very long time, she slept without nightmares.

"Rae?" Feeling the minute relaxation of her body and the instant deepening of breathing, Jacob pursed his lips and sighed. "Not a chatty one at night. Gotcha." Settling himself in, snickering softly at the little snores that emanated from her sleeping form, he closed his own eyes, progressively relaxing his body until he to drifted off to sleep. The last thing he saw in his mind, her beautiful face turned up towards him, that wonderful indignation colouring her eyes. Even in sleep, his lips twitched into a smile.

The alarms were going off all around her but no matter how much she struggled she could not get out of her bindings, faces loomed before her, taunted her, teased her. With a final shout she stuck her arm up and struck one of her opponents and kicked another till she was wrenched sideways as her chair began to fall. Quickly abandoning it, she used it to disable another opponent, by kicking it towards him.

The crash was louder than she expected and cold air instantlysweapt over her body as her eyes snapped open. The top sheets were gone and the other side of the bed was messed up, there was also a lump on the floor. Oh crap...

"Um...sorry?" she coughed as she reached over and silenced her alarm and then peered over the side of her bed. "Well...if you're up...could you make me breakfast, I'm gonna be late for work..." she yawned as she streatched and crawled off the bed, sashaying towards the closet and bathroom.

Jake was used to a variety of wake up calls. God only knows, between his two younger siblings he had had all kinds of awful things happen to him in the early hours of morning. But never, never...had a bed partner managed to physically eject him from the bed, complete with a full tangle of covers...and then order him to cook breakfast while whisking off for a shower.

"Bloody buggering hell. Women and all their wonderous glories eh? And six months of this. With no sex! Thank god the pay is good." He griped nearly silently under his breath, stretching sleep stiff muscles as he dumped the covers back onto the bed. He would make it later. After he went shopping.

"Hope you actually have something to make breakfast with love. I threw out all your take out." Padding quietly into the kitchen, he once more submerged himself in the fridge. Surprisingly enough, there was a decent half-dozen of eggs, a loaf of bread and oddly, a vast array of spices.

Grinning to himself, Jake got to work. By the time Rae was out of hte shower, he had a decent plate of his famous not-overly-spicy-but-amazingly-delicious curry scrambled eggs and herb buttered toast steaming in her spot, along with a large mug of coffee and a glass of orange juice.

Sitting at his own place, one eye on the clock, he waited, tapping graceful fingers against the table, while his free hand stabbed a forkful of eggs. If she was anything like she seemed first thing in the morning, breakfast was not to be leisurely. So he figured there was no harm in starting.

Rae sighed as the scalding water soaked her sore shoulders and made her even sleepier instead of waking her up. With a deep frown she quickly flipped the shower to blistering cold water, gasping sharply as the frigid water seeped into her muscles and stiffening them again. "Deal with the pain," she snapped to herself as she finished her shower with forced slowness, stilling the shivers that threatened to skip down her spine. She was above such things as "hot" and "cold".

Finally she shut off the water and grabbed a towel and efficiantly dried herself off before walking into her closet and picking out her usual apparel. Her pinstripe pants were perfectly pressed and as her hand reached up to tug down a white shirt, her towel was caught on a hook near her hip and her hand tore down a different shirt instead. She looked at the dark green garment and shrugged, a shirt was a shirt and she didn't have any time to argue about it, she was late for being early.

After dressing and pulling her damp hair into an acceptable bun she slipped on a pair of comfortable ballet shoes and walked out into her kitchen. "Good god man, I just meant toast and coffee!" she snapped as she spied the lavish (alright, lavish for her) breakfast sitting before her chair. She glared at it for a moment then at Jacob...then back at the food, oh bloddy hell why not? She took out her chair and sat down with a plop, quickly taking up her fork and stuffing some of the breakfast into her mouth.

She hadn't really meant to taste it, just swallow it, compliment him and then be on her way, but to her immense surprise she found her eyes wideing in surprise at the taste and then shovling the rest down in order to eat it all before she grabbed her coffee mug and drained the scalding liquid with the grace of a seasoned alcoholic (which she was not).

"Um, alright thanks, and uh...I'll see you tonight?" she asked as she pushed in her chair and took her plate to the sink. She inched closer to him and hesitantly gave him a kiss on his cheek, then turned to flee, of course...she didn't get very far...

Jake was only half way through his breakfast when she made it to the table. Pulled out of his reverie, he glanced up, lips parting for a retort on his breakfast....and stopped. Rae was beautiful. Breathtaking....and shoveling her food into her mouth like a kindergarten child.

Sighing, chucking softly under his breath, Jake took a sip of his coffee, eyes widening slightly as she threw hers back, scalding hot and all.

But it was the tentative kiss on his cheek that surprised him. She was reaching out to him. Already? He hadn't expected it that soon...though a feral grin curled his lips as she began to run. Now that he had expected. Out of his chair like a shot, he caught her at the front door, spinning her around with one hand on her shoulder, trapping her body between his arms and his own body.

He wasn't pressing against her though. There was plenty of room to escape. Nothing between them was supposed to come by force or any undue pressure. It should all be mutual. "Now now dearest luv." Jake drawled softly to her. "I go to all the trouble of being forecefully ejected from bed and making you a wonderous breakfast, and all I get is a kiss on the cheek? I think we can do better than that."

As he spoke, he lowered his upper body closer to her, until his lips hovered just milimeters away from hers....and kissed the corner of her mouth.

Smiling, eyes nearly shut it was so large, he pushed himself straight and backed away. "See you tonight darling."

Eyes wide once more at the attention he paid, not her mouth but the corners made her blush a crimson sort of shade. "There's money...in my dresser, in an envelope, so you can go and buy groceries..." she managed to spit out before turning and fleeing out her front door.

But she had to slink back in and retrieve her jacket, scarf and keys before fleeing again, Jake's musical chuckle following her out the door and into the elevator.

As she sped downwards towards the street she heaved a heavy sigh. It hadn't been that bad...six months of pretending to be lovers (even if sex wasn't involved) she could do this, already she felt lighter somehow, it was amazing what a good nights sleep did for ones body...and the strangest thing...there had been no nightmares.

She always had nightmares, even when she and Greer were sharing intimate moments...with a sigh she twisted her scarf around her neck and exited her building, heading straight for MSI.

Shaking his head fondly, Jake placed his hands on his hips, glancing around the vast appartement. With a huge sigh, scratching the back of his neck Jake wandered back into the kitchen. Opening the fridge, he sighed again. "Right. Empty. Market it is then."

Heading for the bedroom, shucking his pajama pants as he went, he hopped in and out of the shower and then donned his favorite outfit. A relaxed fitting (yet still nothing to the imagination) pair of faded jeans and a form fitting black t shirt. Wallet tucked into his back pocket and his black leather watch cuffed on one arm, arm band cuffed onto the other, he headed out the door. Locking the door with the key the landlord had been so kind to provide the day before. He wouldn't be telling Rae that quite yet though.

A bounce in his step, lips pursed into a whistle, Jake made his way out, slipping his sunglasses on his face and heading for the market.